UCC release for Sunrun solar lease termination - filing required?

Yes absolutely get that UCC terminated! Solar companies are notorious for forgetting this step. The UCC-1 they filed basically puts a lien on your home for the equipment. Even though you're buying out and they're removing panels, that filing stays active until they submit a UCC-3 termination statement. I've seen people try to refinance years later and discover old solar UCCs still showing up in lien searches.

Get the UCC termination in writing as part of your buyout agreement. Don't just take their word for it. These companies process hundreds of contracts and things slip through the cracks. Ask for the filing number from the original UCC-1 so you can verify the termination gets filed properly. Most states let you search UCC records online to confirm.

I ran into issues with document verification when dealing with my solar buyout last year. Had the original UCC-1, the buyout agreement, but wanted to make sure everything aligned before the termination was filed. Found this tool called Certana.ai that let me upload all the PDFs to cross-check that the debtor names, collateral descriptions, and filing numbers matched perfectly. Saved me from a potential name mismatch issue that could have caused the termination to be rejected.

Make sure Sunrun provides you with a copy of the filed UCC-3 termination, not just a promise to file it. The termination should reference the original filing number and be submitted to the same office where the UCC-1 was filed. Most residential solar UCCs get filed with the Secretary of State, but some states have different requirements for real estate related filings.

sunrun is terrible with paperwork followup. I'm still waiting for them to respond about my own UCC situation from 3 months ago. These solar companies make their money on volume and don't prioritize the administrative cleanup. You'll probably need to stay on them constantly.

The UCC-3 termination is legally required once you complete the buyout and they remove the equipment. Without it, the original security interest technically remains in effect even though the underlying contract is satisfied. This could complicate future property transactions or refinancing. Most solar companies have standard procedures for this but you need to specifically request it and follow up.

Just went through this process with Vivint Solar (now Sunrun owns them). The key is getting the UCC-3 termination filed within 30-60 days of contract completion. After that timeframe, some companies claim they need additional approvals which can delay things for months. Push for a specific timeline commitment.

Consider using a document verification service before they file anything. I learned this lesson the hard way when a solar company filed a UCC termination with a slightly different property description than the original UCC-1. The termination was rejected and it took another 6 weeks to get it corrected. Something like Certana.ai can catch those discrepancies upfront by comparing all your documents.

Pro tip: get the original UCC-1 filing number and debtor information from your lease documents now, before you need it. Solar companies sometimes change their internal record systems and finding old filing details can become difficult. Having that information ready will speed up the termination process and help you verify it gets filed correctly.

The solar industry has gotten better about UCC procedures over the past few years, but there are still gaps. Sunrun should have a dedicated team for handling terminations, but you might need to escalate beyond your normal customer service rep to reach them. Ask specifically for the 'UCC termination department' or 'loan operations' when you call.

I went through a similar situation with a different solar company last year. One thing I'd add is to request a copy of the UCC-3 termination statement BEFORE they file it, so you can review it for accuracy. I caught an error in the collateral description that would have caused issues later. Also, make sure the termination specifically states that it's terminating the ENTIRE security interest, not just releasing certain equipment. Some companies try to file partial releases if they think there might be remaining obligations. Get everything in writing and don't let them rush the process - a few extra days of review can save you months of headaches later.

Thanks everyone for the detailed advice - this is exactly what I needed to hear! Based on all your input, I'm going to: 1) Gather all my original UCC-1 documentation and filing numbers this weekend, 2) Specifically request that UCC termination language be included in the buyout agreement, 3) Ask to review the UCC-3 termination statement before they file it, and 4) Get the executive customer service or UCC termination department contact info. I'm also intrigued by the document verification tools like Certana.ai that several of you mentioned - seems like a small investment for peace of mind given how many horror stories I'm hearing about filing errors. I'll update this thread once I get through the process in case it helps others dealing with similar solar UCC issues.

One thing I don't see mentioned yet is timing - make sure the UCC-3 termination gets filed BEFORE the panel removal is completed. I learned this the hard way when my solar company removed all the equipment first, then dragged their feet on the paperwork for months claiming they were "waiting for final inspection reports." Since the panels were already gone, they treated it as low priority. By keeping the termination filing as a condition that must be completed before or during the equipment removal, you maintain more leverage to ensure it actually happens. Also, if you're in a state that requires notarization for UCC-3 filings, confirm who's responsible for that step - some companies expect YOU to handle the notarization even though they're the ones filing the termination.

Coming into this as someone who's been researching solar options, this thread is incredibly valuable! I had no idea about the UCC filing complications with solar leases. It sounds like the consensus is pretty clear - definitely don't trust the solar company to handle this automatically, and the timing/leverage points about getting the UCC-3 filed before equipment removal are brilliant. Quick question for those who've been through this: are there any red flags in the original lease agreement that would indicate a company is likely to be problematic with UCC terminations? I'm trying to decide between lease vs purchase options and want to avoid getting into a situation like this in the first place. Also wondering if the document verification tools like Certana.ai work for reviewing lease agreements upfront, not just for the termination process?

As someone who works in commercial lending and deals with UCC filings regularly, I want to emphasize how important it is to get this right. Solar companies often treat UCC terminations as back-office paperwork rather than the critical legal step it actually is. A few additional points: 1) Make sure the UCC-3 termination uses the EXACT same debtor name format as the original UCC-1 - even small variations like "John Smith" vs "John A Smith" can cause rejections, 2) Verify that Sunrun is still the secured party of record - sometimes these loans get sold to other financing companies and the new entity needs to file the termination, not the original installer, and 3) Consider getting a UCC search report from a title company about 30 days after the termination is supposedly filed - it's cheap insurance to confirm everything cleared properly. The horror stories in this thread about companies dragging their feet are unfortunately very common. Document everything and don't assume good faith - treat it like the legal transaction it is.

This thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea UCC terminations were such a critical but often overlooked part of solar lease buyouts. As someone currently evaluating solar options, reading about all these potential pitfalls with lease agreements is making me lean heavily toward purchase instead. The professional insights from Michael Green about exact name matching and verifying the current secured party are particularly eye-opening. It sounds like the key takeaways are: get everything in writing upfront, don't trust the company to handle it automatically, maintain leverage by tying UCC termination to equipment removal timing, and verify completion through independent channels. For those mentioning Certana.ai for document verification - has anyone used it specifically for solar UCC documents, or just general contract review? Seems like having that extra layer of verification could prevent a lot of the filing errors and rejections people are experiencing.

As someone who just went through a solar lease buyout with a different company (SolarCity/Tesla), I can't stress enough how critical it is to stay on top of the UCC termination process. Here's what worked for me: I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every interaction - date, person I spoke with, what was promised, and follow-up dates. This became invaluable when I had to escalate. Also, I recommend requesting the UCC termination language be added to your buyout contract BEFORE signing anything. Once you've signed and paid, your leverage drops significantly. The verification tools mentioned here like Certana.ai are definitely worth considering - I manually cross-checked everything and caught a property description mismatch that would have caused the termination to be rejected. One last tip: if Sunrun gives you any pushback about providing documentation or timelines, remind them that an unterminated UCC filing could potentially expose them to liability issues down the road too. Good luck!